Baseball game



Feb, 7, 1933. R, H CUTTING ET A1. 1,896,684

BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 s'sheets-sheet 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2/M/E/vraes: APM/Meo MC2/777A@ fbx/Vae@ 55h/#5,4052

ym/flaky. Z

R. H. CUTTING ET AL BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 Feb.7,1933.

M19 jf TT- L Feb. 7, 1933. R, H cm1-1N@ ET AL A1,896,684

BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 6 4 /4 44 ffl/l Feb.7, 1933. R H, CUTTINGIET AL 1,896,684

BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wummww.

IIIIIIIN w hm fw w i Feb. 7, 1933.

R. H. CUTTING ET AL BASEBALL GAME Filed Aug. 9, '1928 FENCE FEA/Cf 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented F eb. 7 1933 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT DFFICE l. RICHARD H. CUTTING, or' CLEVELAND, AND EDWARD E.sTUKBAUER, 0E CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, oHIo; sAID CUTTING nssrenon To SAIDSTUKEAUEE BASEBALL GAME Application filed lAugust 9, 1928. Serial No.296,456.

Our invention pertains toa baseball game andmore particularly ,to anamusement apparatus in which participants in the game themselves performmanipulations which lend added zest by introducing the personal equationand which also serve to make` certain occurrences more-realist`icl/Veare well aware that the popularity of our so-called national game hasled to the patenting of a series of inventions in the art of baseballgame'contrivances. Our familiarityI with the following seventeen patentsis acknowledged: Smith No. 416,511; Garbarino No. 945,511; Penser No.'951,257 Elielund No. 959,427; Fitzsimmons No. 961,851; Meeker N o.968,249; Gallagher No. 970,321; Barrett No. 975,316; `VVeedon No.977,149; SuttonNo. 1,031,395; Vickes No. 1,481,247 Dietrick No.1,508,961; Neal No. 1,551,969; Verbeyst No. 1,557,489; Cartee No.1,570,875; Boosey No. 1,588,440; and Chester No. 1,601,849;

' `The general object of our invention has already been declared andspecific features,

' the structure of whichwe have originated and believe to be novel, are:Y y Y 1. A-mechanical ball pitching device for actually pitching a ball,togetherwith controllable means for varying both the direction andcourse of flight of the ball and its speed.

2. A manipulable, selectively7 adjustable bat capable of actuallyhitting aball hurled toward the bat.

3. A series of receptacles each containing pockets for receiving la ballwhether hit or not and optionally including an 4electrically illuminatedsignal designating the play made upon the ball, or lthe rulingsubsequent to each deliverythereof, according tothe pocket Iin which itchanced to Vcome to rest.

4. F ield-bordering conformation for compelling'ball travel to one oranother of the receptacles. f g

5. Electrical circuits adapted to be closed by the ballitself whenoccupying one of the receptacles. v

6. Indicia, preferably electrical, for indicating runners on base.

It should be realized that the scope of our invention comprehends manyequivalent constructions. The showing of the drawings and the particulardescription are merely specific exemplifications of a plurality ofmechanical embodiments and arrangements.

Adverting to the drawings hereto:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a toy baseball game embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1 which extendsthrough the pitching and batting mechanism.

1 Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the directionof the indicatmg arrows. y

F igure4 is a side elevation viewed on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of tweezers to be used forrecovering the ball.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a magnet adapted to pick up the ballafter a play.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1showing the pitchers box mechanism.

Figure 8 is a vertical section on line 8-8 of Figure 7 and furtherconstitutes an enlarged view of a near middle portion of Figure2.

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the pitchers box viewed on line 9-.-9of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 8 lookingfrom the batter toward the pitcliers box.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of a portion of Figure 1showing the trigger mechanism for actuating the ball delivery mechanism.

Figure 12 is a vertical section viewed on line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a vertical section on line 13- 13 of Figure 12. Figures14and 15 are a `plan view and an elevation respectively of a finger guideat the outer end of the trigger mechanism.

Figure 16 is an yenlarged vertical section on line 16-16 of Figure 1showing the battingrnechanism with lateral slide-ability of the bat andvertical adjustability of the bat support.

Figure 17 is an enlarged plan view of one of tbe fielders pockets shownin Figure 1.

Figure 18 is a vertical longitudinal section through one of the lielderspockets taken on line 18-18 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a vertical cross section through one of the fielderspockets taken on line 19-19 of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of one of the contacts used in thefielders pockets for closing the electrical circuit to an indicatinglamp.

Figure 21 is a plan view of a simplified modification of one of theielders pockets intended for use in a game embodying features of ourinvention, but without automatic electrical indicating lamps.

Figure 22 is an enlarged vertical section on line 22-22 of Figure 1showing fence or field-border pockets.

Figure 23 is a vertical cross section through a fence pocket viewed online 23-23 of Figure 22 and Figure 1.

Figure 24 is an enlarged vertical section through the catchers pockettaken on line 24-24 of Figure 1.

Figure 25 is an enlarged vertical section on line 25-25 of Figure 1showing the strike pocket and the two adjacent ball pockets.

Figure 26 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 23 showing a modifiedform of ball contacts which are purposed to insure a better conductionof current between ball and contacts.

Figure 27 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1showing one of the bases, switches for all base lamps and score keepingdials.

Figure 28 is an enlarged broken vertical section on line 28-28 of Figure1 showing illuminable bases and one of the switches for controlling abase lamp. Part of this view is also a section on line 28-28 of Figure27.

Figure 29 is a plan sectional view taken on line 29-29 of Figure 28.

Figure 30 is a fragmentary vertical section through the score keepingdials on line 30-30 of Figure 27.

Figure 31 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Figure 1showing the play-indicating lamps.

Figure 32 is a fragmentary section through the play-indicating lampstaken on line 32-32 of Figure 31.

Figure 33 is a vertical cross section on line 33-33 of Figure 31.

Figure 34 illustrates a wiring diagram showing the arrangement ofconductors between signal lamps and fielding positions, only 3 felderspositions and 6 fence positions being shown in order to simplifydisclosure of a common principle.

Figure 35 is a fragmentary view showing a modified source of poweradapted for use with this invention.

lVe have constructed a game embodying our invention of a size severaltimes the scale of Figure 1, hence, suitable to deposition on anordinary folding card table. 1t should be understood that a playerconsidering himself a member of one team will actually deliver the balltoward the batting position and an opposing player will actuallymanipulate a bat according to his perception of the path of travel ofthe ball. If a ball delivered from the pitchers boX is not hit it willbe automatically registered either as a ball or as a strike, If a ballis hit our construction most often causes it ultimately to reach one ofthe receptacles, which might be outside of the confines of the playingfield to register a foul or an out or a hit entitling the batter to oneor more bases.

The adjustability of, and control of the force imparted to, the pitchingmechanism, by varying the course of the ball, its direction, and theforce, or speed, imparted to it from the pitching mechanism will permitthe person manipulating the latter to attempt t0 deceive the person whois manipulating the bat. The batting device is capable of beingmanipulated so as to make it possible to hit a ball within any sectordemarking the exceptable range of approach of a pitched ball. If abatter has made an out that may be recorded on suitable dial. If he hasmade a hit and reached a certain base his position there is visuallyrecorded, as will be readily understood. The ball must be regularlyretrieved and replaced in the patchers box.

A. square supporting board 1 has an upwardly projecting margin 2enclosing a playing-field 3 which, as may be seen in Figure 2, iselevated by reason of the provision of a variformed undercut. The uppersurface 0f the field 8 is marked with two foul lines 4 and with infielddefining lines 5 and 6 which form in conjunction with portions of thefoul line l a conventional baseball diamond and one corner of whichconstitutes a home plate 7.

Pitching mechanism Somewhat rearwardly of the middle of the diamond, theplaying field is provided with a pitchers boX to which extends mechanismfor affecting and controlling projection of a ball therefrom toward thehome plate 7. The pitching mechanism, in addition to its disclosure, inFigures 1 and 2, is illustra-ted by Figures 7 and 12 inclusive.Referring particularly to Figures 7 and 8, a shallow groove 8 slopesupwardly in a rearward direction and terminates in a pocket 9. the rearand sides of which are defined by a higher wall 10 than is the front ofthe pocket or that side which merges with the groove 8. In other words,the forward lip of the pocket is as slight as possible to yet preventemergence of a metal ball 11 so that it will offer a minimum ofresistance to the ejection of the ball. The forward end of the groove 8Will be ob- Served, upon inspection of Figures 7 and8, gradually tomerge laterally with the playing field so that a rolling ball, in itsconcluding course of travel, may be subject to Vdeviation in consequenceof a twirl which may have been imparted to the ball as will now bedescribed.

The pitching mechanism includes an arm 12 which is disposed under therear corner portion of the playing field and projects through a channel13 in the margin of the board 1- and on its lower side. The channel 13will, from Figure 1, be observed to be wider than the width of the arm12 and is intended to prescribe a definite range of movement of the arm12 and will be hereinafter explained. Near its outer end, the arm 12, isfashioned at opposite sides with upwardly curled flanges 14, the purposeof which will presently become evident. The outer end of the arm 12 isbent upwardly at 15 and carries in screw-threaded attachment a knurledhandle 16. At an intermediate point of the arm 12, though somewhatfurther from its handle 16, it is pivoted through the agency of a screw17 to the lower side of the board, and continuing forwardly, isfashioned with a struck-up tongue 18 to which is secured, in anysuitable manner, a resilient finger 19 which extends obliquely upward ina forward direction through a suitable opening 20 in the board 1 andjust rearwardly of the pocket 9. The upper end of the finger 19 carries,in a depending position, a conically shaped projection 21 which is to becomposed of rubber or some other yielding or friction material. Thearrangement of the finger 19 and location of the projection 21 is suchthat the latter is capable of striking the ball 11 when occupying thepocket 9 and in response to the functioning of Vactuating mechanism, thedescription of which now follows:

Overlying a portion of the arm 12 between its handle 16 and pivot 17 andconfined by the curled flanges 14 is a bar 22 the outer end of which isbent upwardly at 23 and is to have a range of reciprocal movementbetween the outer ends of the flanges 14 and the handle 16, as suggestedby its dotted line position in Figure 12. Thev forward end of the bar 22is bent upwardly at 24 and there carries a swivel 25 to which isattached a tension spring 26 which has its other end attached to theboard 1. Also attached to the end 24 is a cord 27 which is passedthrough an upwardly bent forward extremity 23 of the arm 12. The cord 27is secured to the finger 19 near the free end of the latter.

The operation of the above mechanism is as follows:

A ball 11 having been deposited in the pocket 9 and a player who is toact as pitcher having taken the position on the side of the support forthe board 1 where the handle 16 is located, two fingers, for instance,the mid'- dle finger and thumb will grasp the` handle 16 and bodily movethe arm 12 about its pivot 17 to any chosen position within the latitudeafforded by the width of the channel 13 thereby correspondingly movingthrough a comparatively shorter arc, the 11p-turned tongue 18 and hencethe finger 19 so that the projection 21, which is to strike the ball 11,will do so either in its medium vertical plane or to one side or theother thereof and thereby cause the ball either to roll directly towardthe home plate 7 or in consequence of having been hit to one side of itscenter to be twirled or be given what is known as English simultaneouslywith its forward projection whereby it presently followsa curved path.At the moment that the handle 16 has assumed a selected position and inorder to deceive the player who is to act as the batter in the mannerherein explained, the forefinger will suddenly retract the up-turnedextremityv 23 to effect a jerking pull on the cord 27 and'cause theprojection 21 to dislodge the ball and to roll it out toward the homeplate 7. Upon release of the extremity 23 the spring 26 will function torestore it to its full line position, as shown in Figure 12, and toenable the finger 19 easily to return to the position in which itappears in Figure 8.

Batting mechanism An inverted U shape standard 29 is provided wit-h twodownwardly directed screwthreaded ends 30 which are loosely passedthrough a pair of holes 31 provided in the margin 2 of the board 1 andboth of which are in a vertical plane which cross the home plate 7. Nuts32 and 33 are employed to clamp and adjust the standard 29 firmly inposition by engaging the top and bottom respectively of the margin 2 ofthe supporting board. Loosely mounted on the interjacent section of thestandard 29 and adapted both for swinging movement thereon and slidingmovement therealong is a collar 34 having its one end fashioned as aknurled handle 35 and provided at its other end with adependingextension 36 intended to serve as a bat.

As is disclosed in Figure 16, Vthe collar 34 may be slid to the dottedline position there shown and is incapable of contacting the home plate7 or playing field 3 so as constantly to swing clear thereof. Thelateral adjustability of our bat 36 constitutes what we believe to be anodd feature and permits the person who is acting as batter, instantlyorrepeatedly, to shift the swinging plane of the bat according to theapparent direction of approach of the ball from the pitchers box. Itwill be evident therefore, that the personal equation is similarlyintroduced into the batting performance comprising the features ofselectivity as to location of the collar 34 of the standard 29 and as tothe timing of the counter-swing of the bat 36 by a sudden fingermovement across the face of the knurled handle 35.

Ball-retaining receptacles As may be observed, upon inspection of Figurel, receptacles are provided behind the home plate 7 or at the catchersposition, behind the pitchers box, in substantially the usual fieldingposition of the four infielders and of the three outfielders and alongthe two lnargins of the playing board which defines the left-field andright-field boundaries and which meet in the center-field cornerfarthest from the home plate 7. As exemplified, there is one receptaclein the foul territory of each outfielder and four receptacles alongleach of the margins 2 which cross the foul line 4 respectively. Inasmuchas all the receptacles have structural features and cooperating elementswhich are alike, detailed views have been shown upon sheet 3 of thedrawings, only of certain receptacles which are in some respectsdifferent.

Directing attention to Figures 17 to 20 which pertain to theconstruction of the 7 fielders-position receptacles, it will be seenthat the design includes a hood 37 over a recess 38 which is definedabove and below by inclined surfaces 39 and 40 respectively whichconverge rearwardly or in a direction away from the home plate 7. It isto be understood that we realize that the shape and position of theelement for deflecting the ball may be varied and yet exercise anequivalent function to that of the hood. For instance, it might be aheadof the pocket, but so as to permit the ball to pass underneath.

Ve consider it advantageous if using side walls 41, which areprincipally to stiffen the hood 37, to have them very narrow or thin andpreferably with a rounded forward edge in order to minimize the chanceof a deflection or rebound of a ball from the forward edge of the sidewalls 4l. The forward end of the lower surface 40 is coterminous with`the rear lip of a divided pocket 42, the division of which isaccomplished by two partitions 43. Opening through the bottom of each ofthe three pocket divisions are a pair of spaced bores 44 which alsocommunicate l through the bottom of the playing field.

Each of the bores 44 is occupied by the stem 45 of an electrical contact47 which also includes a head 46 and the opposed sides of each pair ofheads are beveled at 47 The spacing of the beveled surfaces of each pairof contacts in any particular pocket division is so contrived that theball ll will gravitationally come to rest in Contact with each of them.The lower ends of the stem 45 are slotted at 48 for a purpose to behereinafter explained.

` The three pockets shown in Figure 19 are intended to contribute towardthe automatic recordation of three distinct plays which may beselectively varied and become, for instance, an error entitling thebatter to one base, an out and a force-out or fielders choice in theevent that a runner happens to be on the base; or in the case of thefielders receptacle back of the pitchers box, one of the pocketdivisions might designate or record a balk In the simplifiedmodification illustrated in Figure 2l, ball receiving pockets 49,without provision for electrical connection, are provided and the threepocket divisions are supplied with designations 50, 5l and 52 forreading announcement that a two base hit, an out, or three base hitrespectively, is to be recorded for a tabulation of the developing scoreof the game.

Figures and 23 pertain to the construction of field border or fencepockets and disclose the inner sides of the margin 2 recessed 53 and toa coi-iforination very similar to "he recesses 38 behind the fielderspockets so that upper and lower defining walls of extend respectivelyabove and playing field 3. Ball retaining 4 are similarly provided atthe lower s e ends of the recesses 53 and are also pphed in a similarmanner with a pair of e contacts 47. lObservation of Figure 22 wi l showthat the et ge bordering surfaces of the playing field 3 are providedmidway between each pair of pockets 54 with a ridge 55 at a lower levelas the major portion of the upper surface of the playing field 3 andthat such midway points of the edge bordering surfaces may be said toconstitute ridges because of the fashioning of inclinations 5G extendingdownwardly in opposite directions from each of the apex points 55 towardthe near corners of adjacent ones of the pockets rl`his construction isdesigned to insure the gravitational deposition of a ball which has beenhit, to one or the other of the pockets 54 so that an automaticrecordation of the play to be tabulated will occur in a manner which isyet to be more particularly described.

Figures and 25 illustrate an exemplifying design of the ball catchingpockets, in the catchers position, there being three, a middle one 57and the occupancy of which by a ball wil1 denote the delivery of astrike, and the two adjacent ones and 59 of which, if occupied by a ballwill signify that a cball is to be recorded by the scorer. Upstandingpartitions GO and 0l separates the three pooliets 57, 58 and 59.

rlhe modification of Figure 2G pertains solely to an alternation of thepair of contacts G2 which differ from the contacts 47, not only inhaving their upper ends depressed instead of fiush with the lowerdefining surface 38 of a receptacle, to necessitate a drop ofthe ball,but also in having the beveled surfaces 64 more sharply inclined toinsure a tighter wedge pressure on the ball and ,therefore betterconduction of current from one contact through the ball to the other.

Base 'illuminating means The'following description as to Figures 27, 28,29 and 30 and which disclose the construction not only of theillumination of irst` base, second-base and third-base with anelectrical switch control thereof according to whether a runner is or isnot on any one or all of the bases, but also duplex means for keepingscore. The construction of the three base illuminating means isidentical and while Figure 28 discloses relatively transverse sectionalviews of first-base and secondbase, the singular number may be employedin this description and the same reference numerals employed. At theplace of each of the three bases, the playing held 3 is provided with ahole 65 covered by a set-in piece of glass 66. A socket supporting plate67 is secured by means of a pair of screws 68 to the underside of theplayingboard in a position in which it extends across the hole 65.Figure 28 discloses the lateral edges 69 of the plate downwardlyinclined so as to be spaced from the lower side of the playingfield 8.The plate 67 is fashioned with/an aperture 70 which registers with thehole 65. A re- :fleeting housing 71 is providedalong upper lateral edgeswith opposite flanges 72 adapted to be slid over the edges 69 wherebythe latter supportthe former. One end of the plate 67 is provided with adepending exten` sion 7 3, to which is secured in any suitable manner, aconventional type of lamp socket 74 in which an electrical lamp v75 isdetachably tted with a bayonet joint.

The three switches for controlling theillumination of the above lampsare located in.

, an elon ated cut-out 7 6 in the margin 2 which is provided along-sideof rstebase and covered by a plate 77 secured by a pair of screws 78, asis clearly shown in both Figures l and 27. The three switchconstructions 79 are alike and are carried in spaced relation on thelower side of the plate 77 and they are supe ject to the control ,ofhandles`80, 81 and 82 which respectively control the illumination atthird-base, second-base and first-base.

Scoring Zee/ces For keeping the score we provide a plu-` rality of dialsrotatably adjustable by manipulation and both mounted at one end of theplate 77 in continuing alinement with the three switches. Opening on theside facing the playing-field one end of the cutout-7 6 is fashioned asa shallowerchann-el 83 which is occupied by the two rotatable scoringdiscs,

wardly beyond the margin 2 so as to permit frictional finger contactwith its serrated edge. The disc 84 is marked to serve vas a di al bythe provision on its upper face in circumferential arrangement of fournumerals, viz, 0, 1,72, 3, which are alternatively to be brought to viewthrough an opening` 86 in the plate 77 and which opening is bordered bythe word outs. Figure 27 discloses the numeral 1 to view, therebyevidencing that one out has been made in some particular half inning.Another disc 87 is similarly mounted adjacentto the disc 84 and isfashioned with circumferentially arranged numerals, from O to 10inclusive, as illustrated, and one or the other of which may besimilarly brought to View Abyl ladjustment to a position directly belowanother opening 88 in the plate 77.

Figure 27 happens to disclose through the openino' 88 the numeral 2 toevidence that two runs have been scored in some particular half inningpreparatory to the eventual tabulation on a score pad.

Inspection of Figure 1 will reveal the margin 2 opposite third-base tobe provided with the illuminable means for disclosing progress of theplay and which means is further shown in enlarged detail in Figures 31to33 inclusive. That portion of the margin 2 is provided with anelongated opening 89 entend-` ing` downwardly therethrough and dividedinto seven sections by depending partitions 90. rlhe composite opening89 is covered by a plate 91 which is fashioned, as exemplified, withseven equispaced squareA openings 92.

Resting on end ledges 98 which are fashioned in the upper hole,bordering portions of the margin 2 is a strip of translucent.

are secure in a feasible manner and so as toV project one underneatheach of the openings 92, seven electrical sockets 97 in which of eachisdetachably fitted a lamp 98.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate alternative devices for lifting a ball andrestoring it to the pocket 9 at the pitchers boX. `Figure 5 is a Commontype of tweezer 99 provided with spoon shaped extremities 100. Figure 6one of which 84 is pivoted at its center as by a.

shows a magnet 101. As will be readily ico understood, either of thesedevices will serve more conveniently to lift a ball.

Electrical 'wiring system IVe hav-e purposely reserved description ofthe wiring which is required to make operable the automatic disclosureof some result of any particular play in consequence of the ball 11reaching any of the fielders pockets, or fence pockets, or foul pocketsor catchers pockets or the pockets behind the pitchers box; as well asthe disclosure of a runner or runners on bases in conjunction with theoperation of the switches 80, 81 and 82. The wiring diagram illustratedin Figure 34 shows an arrangement of conductors between the signal lampsand certain fielders positions. Only three fielder position pockets andsix fence position pockets have been incorporated in the wiring diagramfor the purpose of simplicity and because obviously any number offielder or fence positions can be wired into the circuits in a mannerlike The travel of current may be readily traced and because of the factthat the fielders positions are mere duplications and theplay-indicating lamps are also duplications, only one of each will beselected for description. If a ball falls into, say, one of thethird-base pockets 42 it will effect closure of one of the circuits bypassage from one of the contacts 47 through the metal ball 11 and to theother contact 47, in a manner diagrammatically traced on Figure 34 asfollows:

The electrical current will pass along the line 104 to the wire 106,which is to be considered as leading to the right one of the threepockets 42 behind third base (looking toward left field) and as beingconnected, by insertion in the slot 48 at the bottom of the stem 45, tothe right one of the two contacts 47 which are located in thatparticular pocket. Occupancy of that pocket by the metal ball 11 whichmay be copper coated to assure greater conductivity if desired, willautomatically close the circuit by permitting the current to flow fromthe wire 106 across from one contact to the other thence along a wire107 through one of the lamps 98 to cause it to glow and thereafter toreturn along the wire 105. It will be noticed that the particular lamp98 to which a wire 107 leads is designated 1 base and therefore whensuch lamp is illuminated the scorer will assume either a hit7 or anerror7 was made, in either event entitling the runner to first base.

It is desirable constantly to display the fact that a runner is on firstbase and that portion of the wiring diagram which includes one of themanually operable switches adjacent first base will next be described.Also connected with the wire 104 is a wire 108 from which leads a wire109 which is connected with the first base7 lamp 75, thence along` awire 110 to the switch 82 and from it along a wire 111 to a wire 112which is connected with the line 105. As will be readily understood,when the switch 82 is closed, a closed circuit will be established tothe battery 102 and that particular lamp 75.

In some instances it may be preferable to substitute for the battery 102a. commercial line having, as shown in Figure 35, the two terminals 113and 114 in association with a switch 115 with which is also connected atransformer 116 from which wires 11'4 and 118 will lead in substitutionfor the wires 104 and 105 and for connection with the complete wiringdiagram in the same manner as shown in Figure 34.

1We claim:

1. A baseball game comprising a carrier having a home plate displayedthereon, a ballcatching receptacle located in the corresponding positionof a member of a ball team and provided with an opening facing saidplate, a standard secured to said carrier at said plate and a batslidably and swingably mounted on said standard and adapted forunrestrained bodily movement crosswise of said plate and to transcribean arc in a relatively transverse plane respectively.

2. In a baseball game, the combination of a support for holding a ball,an arm pivoted to said support, a resilient pitching finger carried bysaid arm in position for striking the ball and mea-ns carried by saidarm for actuating said finger independently of any movement imparted tosaid arm.

3. In a baseball game, the combination of a support provided with apocket for holding a ball, an arm pivoted intermediately of its ends tothe lower side of said support, a pitching device resiliently carriednear one end of and by said arm so as to be in position for striking aball occupying said pocket and means movably carried by said arm andincluding a flexible connection with said finger for actuating saiddevice.

4. In a baseball game, the combination of a A playing-field-representingsupport fashioned with a pocket for holding a ball and also providedwith an opening adjacent to said pook et, an arm pivoted to the lowerside of said support, a resilient pitching finger carried by said arm inposition for striking the upper side of a ball occupying said pocket anda finger actuating contrivance carried by said arm and including aconnection with the free end of said finger.

5. In a baseball game, the combination of a field-representing boardfashioned below with a recess and also provided near the pitchers-boxsite with an opening, an arm pivoted to the lower side of said board andadapted to swing in said recess, a linger carried by said arm andprojecting up into said opening, an actuating vdevice slidably connectedalong said arm and flexibly connected with said linger whereby to causethe latter to strike a ball appropriately placed on said board inresponse to manipulation of said device.

6. In a baseball game, the combination of a plane held-representingsupport provided with a pair of spaced holes, an inverted U- shapedstandard having ends passed through said holes respectively, means forsecuring said ends in place, and a collar slidable along the interjacentsection of said standard and fashioned at one end as a handle and at itsother end as a projecting bat.

7. In a baseball game, the combination of a plane field-representingsupport provided with a pair of spaced holes, an inverted U- shapedstandard having screw-threaded ends passed through said holesrespectively, a collar pivotally and slidably mounted upon theinterjacent section of said standard, one end of said collar beingfashioned as a knurled handle and th-e other end as a dependingprojection intended to serve as a bat and a pair of nuts cooperatingwith each of said threaded ends on opposite sides of said supportrespectively and adapted to hold the extremity of said projection inpredetermined spaced relation with respect to the upper surface of saidsupport.

8. In a baseball game, held-representing board provided along` itsborder with a pair of ball-retaining pockets, the edge borderinghorizontal surface of said boa-rd being fashioned between pairs of saidpockets with a ridge and declinations extending in opposite directionsfrom said ridge to said pair of pockets respectively, a pair of spacedelectrical contacts in said pockets adapted to engage opposite sides ofa metal ball gravitaj tionally resting thereon and an electrical circuitincluding a signal operatively connected with said contacts.

9. In a base ball game, a field board, having an elevated pitchers boXpocket, a swingable bat, said board being also fashioned with a grooveextending from said pocket toward said bat, an arm mounted to swingcrosswise with respect to said groove, a resilient ling-er mounted onsaid arm adjacent to said box means for swinging said arm and means foractuating said linger' whereby variously to dislodge a ball from saidpocket towards said bat.

10. A base ball game, a field board provided with a ball retainingpocket, a swingable bat, a resilient finger mounted on said board andduplex means for bodily shifting and flexing said finger respectivelyand adapted to cause it variously to dislodge a ball from said pockettoward said bat.

11. In a base-ball game, a plane field-representing support, anappropriately located batting device operable by one player, anyappropriately located pitching device operable by an opposing'- playerand mechanism for swinging said pitching device bodily along one arcl ofmovement and for deflecting it along lanother substantially transversearc of movement.

12. In a base ball game, a plane field representing support, anappropriately located batting device manipulable by one player, aresilient pitching linger, mechanism for bodily adjusting said lingerand mechanism for flexing said finger.

13. In a base ball game, a plane field-repf resenting support, a battingdevice operable by one player, a pitchers-box ball retaining pocket, apitching linger positioned obliquely with reference to said support andwith its extremity ladapted to strike a ball in said pocket, mechanismfor bodily adjusting said linger and mechanism for actuating said lingerdownwardly to cause it to strike and dislodge a ball from said pocket.

14. In a baseball game, a held-representing board provid-ed with anundulating margin, and provided along said margin with a plurality ofspaced pockets and between said pockets with upper surface areas slopingupwardly in opposite directions from the rims of lsaid pockets.

15. A device of the character described, comprising a standard, a batslidably and swingably mounted loosely von said standard and adapted forunimpeded reciprocable bodily movement along said standard and totranscribe an arc thereon.

16. A device of the character described. thecombination of a standard, acollar slidable substantially horizontally along said i standard, saidcollar being fashioned near its one end as a depending bat and near itsother end as a lmurled handle. 17. A device of the character described,comprising in combination a movable mounted arm, an upstanding pitchinglinger carried .by said arm, means for bodily adjusting said arm andmeans for flexing said linger indepenently of bodily adjustment of saidarm.

18. In a baseball game, a plane field representing support marked withpitchers and batters sites, an arm movably -connected below saidsupport, a pitching finger carried by said arm and projecting through anopening in said support, means for bodily adjusting said arm crosswiseof a line extending between said pitchers and batters sites and meansfor actuating said linger in a direction toward the batters site.

19. In a device of the character described, a Zfield-representingelement fashioned with a pocket, and a hood adjacent and wholly behindsaid pocket with reference to the direction of approach of a playedball, the

upper surface of said held-representing element underneath said hoodsloping upwardly from said pocket and the lower surface of said hoodsloping downwardly.

20. In a baseball gam-e, a held-representing element, marked with a homeplate and fashioned with a predeterminately arranged series of pockets,and a hood including sidewalls and a connecting rear wall and alignedbehind each of said pockets with reference to said home plate to form.ballcatching recesses, the opposed surfaces oteach of said recessesbeing inclined with reference to tie plane of said iield representingelement and converging in a direction away from said home plate to mergeat a point approximately in the plane of said field-representing elementand the said opposed surfaces being spaced apart both more and less thanthe diameter of the ball to be used whereby momentarily to wedge and tocheck rebound of the ball from a recess, the bottoms of said recesseshaving their lower forward edges terminatin g at said pocketsrespectively.

2l. A baseball game comprising a carrier, a. home-plate thereon,ballcatching receptacle located in a position corresponding to that of amember of a ball team and provided on its side remote from saidhome-plate with a hood, said hood having an entry in line with saidhome-plate, and a ybat loosely mounted on said carrier and adapted forunrestrained movement b'oth pivotally and bodily in relativelytransverse planes, each perpendicular to said carrier.

ln a baseball game, the combination of a held-representing element`provided with a hooded ball-catching receptacle, said receptacle beingformed by a pocket, and by a recess located on the remote side of saidpocket with reference to the direction of approach of a playing ball,said recess being delined by rearwardly converging top and bott-omsurfaces, eac-h of said last mentioned surfaces Vforming an angle withthe plane of said field-representing element and having their forwardends, respectively above and below the plane of said field-representingelement, said inclined bottom surface of said recess having its forwardend terminating at said pocket.

23. In a device of the character described, a substantially iiatheld-representing element fashioned with a receptacle, the latter beingformed by a hood and by an inclined bottom surface which is depressedbelow the upper surface 'of said field-representing element to form arecess underneath said hood, the opposed surtaces or said recessconverging in the sam-e direction as the travel of a played ball.

Signed by us, this 8th day of August, 1928.

RICHARD H. CUTTING. EDNARD F. STUKBAER.

